Ikpeazu splashes scholarship to Abia pupils for coming top in WASSCE

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has awarded scholarship to 17 students - one from each of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state for their brilliant performance at the 2015 May/ June West African School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE).

This gesture according to the Governor is in recognition of the excellent performance of the students as Abia State came first in the country according to the result published by WASSCE.

A press statement issued yesterday by the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Enyinnaya Apolos said the scholarship covers the training of the beneficiaries in any Nigerian tertiary institution of their choice.

The statement said the Governor had already  directed the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgboji, to forward to him the list of the best student from each LGA of the state in the 2015 WASSCE examination results.

It read in part: "The Governor also directed that, going forward, the best performing student in WASCE from each of the 17 LGAs will receive automatic tertiary education scholarship from the state government.

"It will be recalled that West African Examination Council (WAEC) recently released details of the performance of students by state and Abia State came first as the best performing state, while 35 other states and Abuja queued behind."

The statement said that Abia State had consistently maintained top position in the WASSCE performance chart in the past five years.

"In results released for 2014 and 2013 Abia came second behind Anambra State but has now overtaken Anambra state as the overall best and 1st in the WASSCE performance chart for 2015 examinations.

" The State topped the chart with 33, 762 of its 52, 801 candidates, scoring 63.94 per cent."

The Governor , therefore, challenged the Education Commissioner, teachers and students in the state to sustain the tempo, promising to provide facilities that will improve teaching and learning in the state.

Recall that Gov. Ikpeazu recently donated 3 cars to the best primary teachers from each senatorial zone of the state.

The Governor who was formerly a university don, therefore, appealed to private individuals and organizations to support his "adopt a school" programme and help his administration fast track infrastructural renewal across Abia Schools.

He also promised to sustain the free school meal initiative he recently launched , saying that his administration will continue to give premium to education considering its pivotal role to economic growth.